Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXEC accident near Wimberley, Texas, October 2, 1992
On October 2, 1992 at about 8:45 pm local time, a amateur-built ROTORWAY EXEC (helicopter), registered N41KC, was destroyed in an accident near Wimberley, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE DELAMINATION OF THE SKIN ON A MAIN ROTOR BLADE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 1992 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wimberley, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXEC ROTORWAY E
- Registration
- N41KC · registry record · serial 80E2912C
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PILOT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT IN HIS HOMEBUILT HELICOPTER WHEN AN INFLIGHT BREAKUP WAS INITIATED BY THE SKIN DELAMINATION OF ONE OF HIS MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE DYNAMIC IMBALANCE AND DIVERGENT FLAPPING OF HIS ROTOR SYSTEM CAUSED THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO STRIKE THE TAILBOOM AND PORTIONS OF THE AIRFRAME. WITNESSES REPORTED AN EXPLOSION AND INFLIGHT FIRE PRIOR TO THE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT TO THE GROUND. THE WRECKAGE WAS DISPERSED FOR 750 YARDS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 42 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 42 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 27, 1992; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RW 152 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Buda TX at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:36 pm from T98, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.